farmington fido festival

Dogs and their owners can enjoy hours of entertainment, including performances by the Ultimate Air Dogs, Rock n’ Roll K9’s, Disc Dogs of Michigan, and Lucky Lure Coursing. Check out the newest in doggy wear, participate in contests, and visit Rescue Row – you might just find a new addition to your family!

Family Fun

The Family Fun Zone will feature a carnival for ages 12 and under with games, rides and inflatables. Children can also enjoy meeting their favorite princesses and super heroes, crafting, and face painting. Other family activities will include the Founders Festival Parade, a pig roast, hot air balloon glow on Friday, and Saturday night fireworks!

Night Life

The best LIVE bands are coming to Founders Festival: Atomic Radio on Thursday, Fifty Amp Fuse on Friday, and Killer Flamingos on Saturday. Live entertainment will be offered 5-11pm. Be sure to also check out the Beer Tent which will featured Tito’s Handmade Vodka, Jim Beam and Bud Light! Plus, there will be food trucks and a Pig Roast!

Founders Festival 2019

2019 Brings a New, Expanded Location and New Attractions!

The annual Greater Farmington Area Founders Festival presented by Meijer returns this year for its 55th celebration of summer with many new attractions including a major expansion into the city’s Shiawassee Park. A soft opening for the Beer Tent starts at 5 p.m. Thursday July 18, while the full festival runs from July 19 through 21. The festival will be bringing back some traditional events like the parade up Grand River Avenue, the Bingo Tent, Beer Tent, and live music. Several new features including fireworks Saturday night, a children’s carnival, and a pig roast will be added.

Parking:

Along with the transition to Shiawassee Park come all-new parking locations. Plenty of parking will be available at Farmington High School, next to Our Lady of Sorrows church, behind the Maxfield Training Center, and other lots around town. A courtesy shuttle provided by American House Senior Living Communities and Omega Benefit Strategies will operate daily between Farmington High and the festival grounds for handicapped and elderly visitors.

A stretch of Shiawassee Road will be closed to through-traffic between Farmington Road and south-bound Power Road.

Attractions Abound at Farmington Founders Festival!

Here’s a look at what festival-goers will experience at this year’s Festival:

Farmington Fido Fest was one of last year’s most popular attractions and is back for 2019! Fido Fest will include performances from The Ultimate Air Dogs, Rock n’ Roll K9’s, Disc Dogs of Michigan, and Lucky Lure Coursing. Dogs and their owners can check out the newest doggy wear or participate in one of the many contests throughout the weekend. Make sure to visit Rescue Row where you might find your next addition to your family! Hours: Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m., Sunday 12 noon – 5 p.m.

Family Fun Zone presented by Community Choice Credit Union will feature a children’s carnival for ages 12 and younger with games, rides, and inflatables. The Community Choice Credit Union Cash Tornado will be on-site Saturday 10 a.m. – 8 p.m. Children can meet with Princesses, Super Heroes and characters from Frozen, make crafts, and have their faces painted. The Koalabotz, presented by Bosch, will conduct a variety of free STEAM activities including coding Lego robots, watching acid and base reactions while exploding LEGO volcanoes, and creating fun toys with recycled materials. Hours: Friday & Saturday 10 a.m. – 9 p.m., Sunday 12 noon – 5 p.m.

Other Activities Include:

The LOC Color Run and Founders Festival Parade presented by Beaumont will both take place on Saturday. LOC Color Run starting at 9 a.m. and the Parade stepping off at 10 a.m.

Staged this year in Shiawassee Park, the Bingo Tent will host games near the stage, where guests can enjoy live music and indulge in delicious eats. Hours: 5 p.m. – 10 p.m. Friday and Saturday

A new twist on an old tradition, the Farmington Founders Festival Pig Roast on Friday and Saturday will be easy to find…just follow your nose!

Back by popular demand, the festival will host Fireworks brought to you by the DTE Energy Foundation! Guest are invited to watch the fireworks from inside Shiawassee Park. Watch for road closures. Hours: Saturday 10:00 p.m. (weather permitting.)

Great for families, the Hot Air Balloon Glow presented by Bosch will feature crews inflating hot-air balloons, and pilots on-hand to tell how heated air molecules inflate the balloons and make them rise. Hours: Friday at dusk (weather permitting.)

A variety of food trucks will offer up everything from Elephant Ears to unique eats! Thursday-Sunday during festival hours.

Kids can explore big trucks, street sweepers and emergency vehicles at Touch a Truck on Powers Road next to the park. Hours: Friday 1-3 p.m.